Sunday, October 14, 2007

First Draft


Thursday night I attended a fundraiser for the Tulsa Press Club. It was the third annual First Draft, a cleverly named beer tasting event that featured different beers from around the world. It was a beer drinkers paradise. Out of the 45 different beers offered, I sampled 14. The things I go through for the sake of charity.

The event was meant to educate about the art of beer brewing, but many people working the tables were volunteers from the Press Club and had minimal knowledge about the beers. One exception was Eric Marshall, Brewmaster of Marshall Brewing Company, Tulsa's first production craft microbrewery. Eric has a strong background in the art of craft brewing, having studied at the World Brewing Academy in Munich and served as an apprentice and brewer in multiple craft breweries. Eric offered three beers from his brewery: Atlas IPA, Marshall Wheat, and an ESB. I tried the Atlas IPA and found it to be one of the most enjoyable beers of the night. Marshall Brewing Company is scheduled to have beer available to the public in November. Look for it at McNellies.

After tasting beer after beer, my taste buds (and overall state of mind) were a bit confused, but there were a few beers that stood out. Wittekerke Rose was one of them. It neither looked or tasted like what you would think of as beer. It was served in a Red Bull sized pink can featuring a neon green female figure. I couldn't decide if this packaging was stylish and posh or a gaudy embarrassment to beer. It looks like a great beer to drink at a dance club, or if you were to be sneaky, you could drink this beer while driving and law enforcement would be none the wiser. Obviously targeted to women, this Belgium wheat beer is brewed with pure raspberry fruit. Unlike the Lindemans Framboise, another Belgium raspberry beer which is cloyingly sweet, the Wittekerke Rose was the perfect balance. I gave it a five star rating.

Some other noteworthy beers I tried: Avery Ellie Brown Ale, Ayinger Celebrator, and Konigshoeven Quadrupel. These beers were all very distinctive and flavorful. McNellies carries a variety of beers from each of these breweries, so you can come in and try them for yourself. The worst beer I tasted, other than some home brews from the Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers (FOAM), was Budweiser's fairly new seasonal beer, Beach Bum. Go figure.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Marshall Brewing Company shout out! One correction, I will have beer available in January. I am sorry but due to the crazy price posting laws in this state it will set me back a few months. Thanks again for the good word!!! Great blog by the way.

Eric

Christie said...

Thanks for the correction. Sorry to mislead all those thirsty consumers.

Anonymous said...

Eric's beers are some of the best I've had. I had his IPA last weekend, along with a few others, but that one really stood out. Great stuff man, look forward to seeing it hit the shelves...and the taps.

Anonymous said...

Right. I liked the last blog. I don't know if you decided to apply your opinon more liberally to the blog or what. But your description of the Wittekerke Rose can was pretty funny. The phrase "a gaudy embarassment to beer" is particularly nice. Simultaneously classy and insulting, I feel it captures the high class yet sleezy style that many beer drinkers strive for.

Bway

Kyle said...

Yeah so I tried the Witterkerke Rose about 6 months ago and I was nearly crucified by my coworkers for thinking about drinking a beer from a little "gay" can. And I sampled it one more time this last Sunday at the Jarboe show. My response remains the same, for what it is, it is perfect. The balance of the beer is perfect. The sweetness of the fruit seems very natural, not forced, which is a plus. The packaging is as simple as a marketing choice. Middle-aged women who love their little novelty champagnes and vicodin will love this too.

Beers like the rose open up beer drinkning to more peolple than the hearty ale drinkers that you and I might be. And for that we should be thankful. If somebody has their beer and I've got mine I'm happy. I can't judge someone based on the beer they drink, as long as they enjoy the experience.

PS. Marshall Brewing Company is the best beer brewed by a man wearing a skunk pelt for a cap, on Earth.

Anonymous said...

I don't mind ordering a beer from a funny looking can if it tastes anything like Lindemans Frambois!

Your Mom

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